18 December
UN Arabic Language Day
Created by UNESCO in 2010 to celebrate the Arabic language, following a decision to create a world day for each of the six official UN languages (Spanish, French, English, Chinese, Russian and Arabic). The purpose of the world day is to raise awareness among Member States and the agencies and staff of the UN system of the history of the language and its culture and development. The day is an opportunity to broaden knowledge of the cultural and social treasure of the Arabic language, to discover more about it and its contribution to human civilisation. This day is celebrated around the world with cultural events, including literary readings, musical concerts, art exhibitions, lectures, and theatrical productions. The date coincides with the 1973 day in that the UN General Assembly adopted Arabic as the sixth official language of the organisation.